Recorded Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Book talk begins at 31:30

Our Summer Tops KAL has begun and goes until to June 1, 2024.  It needs to be an adult-sized top that you consider to be appropriate for use in the summer, and we will leave the parameters of that to you!  Come chat with us about summer tops on our KAL thread, and check out our Summer Tops bundle for pattern ideas!

Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom

Events

Tracie and Barb will 

• NoCKRs - April 25-28, 2024 at the St Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, CA
• Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA

KNITTING

Barb Finished:

• Bankhead Hat #27 by Susie Gourley
• Velvet Pullover by Claudia Quintinella, using Serendipidye Kings Mountain Fingering in the Piccadilly colorway, Invictus Yarn Adventure in the Don’t Look  Under the Lilacs, Invictus Yarns Master of My Feet in the Adagio colorway, AND Knit Picks Palette in the Aster and Bluebells colorway.
• 2 Knitted Knockers

Tracie finished:

• 2 Soap Sacks by Haley Waxberg in Knockers yarn (And the bar shampoo and conditioner Tracie can be purchased at https://viori.com/)
• Beginner’s Rainbow Rabbit by Claire Garland in sparkly periwinkle Tahki Linguine for Lauren’s 12th birthday
• Jen by Josée Paquin in Marianated Yarns Scrumptious HT in Sea of Glass and Indigo Bunting, Laneras Barefoot in Coral and Invictus Yarns Unconquerable Sole BFL in the Powerful colorway
• 1 Knitted Knocker

If you would like to make Knitted Knockers, here is some useful info -

From the Knitted Knockers.org website:

“Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prostheses for women who have had breast cancer and undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy. Traditional breast prosthetics can be hot, heavy and sticky. They typically require special bras or camisoles with pockets and can’t be worn for weeks after surgery. Knitted Knockers are soft, comfortable, beautiful and when placed in a regular bra they take the shape and feel of a real breast. They are adjustable, washable and can even be worn while swimming. Our special volunteer knitters provide these FREE to those requesting them”

Please visit the Knitted Knockers website, Knitted Knockers Homepage for all the information that you need.  

This webpage is especially helpful for information on approved yarns and color information: Yarns and colors

Very Important: Please note that neutral colors are preferred.  If you want, you can use bright colors on the bottom of your knocker, but the top of it needs to be in a neutral color. 

Patterns: So many choices!  Please go to this section to pick and download your (free) pattern: Knitted Knockers Patterns. 

Hint:  The Bottoms Up Knocker for Double Point Needles pattern works great with magic loop too…and has the easiest “start” to your knocker!

Barb working on:

• Cheeky Cables Socks  by Mary Lukas using Universal Yarns Zesty Sock in the Pearl colorway
• CAPROCK tee by Yamagata using Araucania Ollagua
• Knitted Knockers

Barb has cast on:

• Pinnacles Beanie by Nancy Bates, from the Knitting the National Parks by Nancy Bates, using a kit
• Rock It Tee #2 by Tanis Lavallee, using Knit Picks Lindy Chain, in the colors Clarity, Rouge, and U Blue

Frogged: 

Colourwheel DK 1 Ball Scarf by Sirdar, using a Sirdar Colourwheel in the Follow the Rainbow Colorway

Tracie cast on:

• Pixie Dust by Dani Sunshine in Berroco Vintage Handpaints in light blue/pale green/purple
• 1 Knitted Knocker

She continues to work on:

• Fresh Favorite Tee by Christen Clement Designs in Queen City Yarn Coleman in the Maple colorway
• Fiddly Bits Cowl by Jana Pihota using fingering scraps

BOOKS

• Look What You Made me Do: Confronting Heartbreak & Harassment in Big Law by Erin Gordon - 4 stars
• The Loyal Wife by Natalie Barelli - 3 stars
• Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Coast Trail by Andrea Lankford - 5 stars
• The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad, #5) - 4 stars
• Patient Care: Death and Life in the Emergency Room, by Paul Seward - 4 stars

Tracie read:

• The River’s Edge (Jackman & Evans #10) by Joy Ellis - 2.5 stars for someone not familiar with the series
• Ill Wind (Anna Pigeon #3) by Nevada Barr - 3 1/2 stars - takes a while to get going
• How Lucky by Will Leitch - 3 stars.  Wanted to like it more!  But got frustrated with situation and too worried for main character
• American Girl by Wendy Walker - 3 stars.  Have not thought about it since I finished it
• Tunnel Vision: A True Story of Multiple Murder and Justice in Chaos at America's Biggest Marine Base by N.P. Simpson - 4.5 stars
• The Island of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood - 4 stars
• Her Last Move by John Marrs - 2 stars

 Recorded Thursday, February 8, 2024

We are so excited to have Kim McBrien Evans, dyer of Indigodragonfly Yarns, designer, teacher, innovator of knitting pattern modification and all-around Textile Maven as our guest this episode!

We had a fantastic talk with her about her background, starting her yarn business, learning to modify knit patterns out of necessity and wanting to share what she’s learned about anything-but-standard sizing and as a teacher, designer and advocate for size inclusivity and a change in the way we size women’s clothing.

Coupon Codes for Our Listeners

Website: https://indigodragonfly.ca

Discount code for yarn and patterns: 

15% off all yarn and patterns

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/kim-mcbrien-evans

Discount code: 2KNITLIT15

15% off all patterns and ebooks

Impervious Shawl

 designed to be knit with some of Kim's husband's more complex colorways

A Tale of Two Sweaters

"New Representative Sizing Standards for Garments that Fit" by Kim McBrien Evans for Digits and Threads, March 9, 2022 (you can download the size chart here as well through an email sign up)  

"Inclusive Sizing Is Not Impossible—We Just Have to Work Together" by Kim McBrien Evans for Digits and Threads, April 14, 2021

Digits and Threads has a lot of other Kim's articles about fit, so take a look around!

Find Kim

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Indigodragonfly

Instagram: @indigodragonfly